Depression is a common but serious mood disorder that can present with symptoms that can cause negative distress to the quality of life for an individual. On occasions, depression symptoms can also be linked to anxiety.
Depression can be described as feeling down, constantly feeling miserable, having no interest or pleasure in doing things.
Anxiety can be described as having panic attacks, constant worrying or always being on edge.
Interestingly, it’s quite common for many depression and anxiety sufferers to experience both depression and anxiety symptoms.
There are different forms of depression and symptoms can vary from person to person.
Depression can sneak in and stay undiagnosed for days or even months or years.
Sometimes an individual may not even realise that they’re suffering from depression because the symptoms may be masked by other emotional factors which you’re experiencing at that point of time and may seem harmless or even mild in the beginning.
However, depression is a persistent condition that affects and determines how you feel, think, and live your life including how well you sleep, eat, study or function in your working environment.
Listed below are some common symptoms depression sufferers may experience.
Depression and your ability to work
You may find that it has become difficult for you to feel energetic or initiate/finish projects.
You may describe going to your workplace as “dragging yourself”.
Your focus or concentration spans may have been affected can also plague you by taking longer than usual to finish tasks and to meet expected deadlines.
Depression and your sleep patterns
Some people find that being depressed makes it harder for them to fall asleep while others report wanting to stay in bed longer even if they cannot actually sleep.
Because the mind is constantly active with negative thoughts, it’s these thoughts of continuous worry or having sad feelings about people and events normally outside of your control that sabotages the ability for the mind to have a deep rested sleep.
The feeling of fatigue, lack of energy and always believing you’re overwhelmed and lacking clarity and confidence can cause depression.
Depression and your food and appetite
Just like sleeping too little or too much can be a problem, eating too much (binge eating) or eating too less (starving such as in anorexia nervosa) are also associated with depression.
If you notice unusually low appetite or greater urge to binge eat, you should observe your pattern of eating more closely and if you’re not feeling right to seek professional help from your GP or a Counselling in Melbourne CBD psychologist.
Depression and your interpersonal and social relationships
Depression can interfere with your ability to enjoy social events or to connect with others.
You may feel withdrawn and not want to show up to parties and/or call or visit friends and family. You may also find that your libido is low and you do not enjoy intimacy with your partner anymore.
Depression and your self-esteem
Depression eats away silently at self-esteem. You may start feeling unsure about your self-worth, abilities or appearance and even start second-guessing yourself for things that you once had expertise over.
if you think you have been suffering from depression or have experienced symptoms for at least the past two to four-weeks A qualified mental health professional can help you with a diagnosis.
Your psychologist or GP may ask you various questions about the symptoms you’ve been experiencing to rule out an underlying organic/medical condition.
Psychometric assessments such as the K-10 are commonly used in order to formally diagnose if you’re suffering from a mental health condition and to make recommendations for treatment, usually in form of seeing a depression psychologist or a depression counsellor.
Your treatment will vary according to the severity and frequency of your symptoms and how persistent they are.
A depression psychologist may also possibly use a combination of clinically and evidence-based approved approaches such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) or Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) or Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) which only qualified registered general or clinical psychologists are allowed to use with their clients.
Worldwide millions of people are affected by depression, but there is a positive… if you’re suffering from depression, depression can be tamed and eventually beaten.
There are many treatments available such a more advanced medications which a psychiatrist can prescribe or it could be something as simple as lifestyle changes, such as an improved diet and an introduction of an exercise regime.
However, no matter what your personal circumstances are, it’s far better to seek professional help early if you suspect that something is off rather than to self-diagnose or self-medicate.
Please do not be afraid to start the conversation.
Counselling in Melbourne provides counselling services in Melbourne CBD. Our counsellors and psychologists are highly trained with many years of experience and dedication to the mental health field.
Our practitioner’s goal is to partner with you by focusing on getting the best outcomes you deserve.
To schedule an appointment or would like to know more, please call 1300 967 734.
